Manisa, Archaeological site near Manisa, Turkey
Manisa is a large city in the province of the same name at the foot of Mount Sipylus in western Turkey. The settlement spreads across the fertile Gediz valley and connects modern districts with preserved sections of ancient walls and rock formations.
Roman troops defeated Seleucid forces here in 190 BC in a battle that shifted the political balance across Asia Minor. The city later received new defenses during the rule of the Empire of Nicea in the 13th century.
The name derives from the Lydian royal house and appears today on street signs and public buildings throughout the modern city. Locals visit the ancient sites on weekends for picnics and walks along the preserved fortification lines.
Marked trails lead to the ancient remains on the lower slopes of the mountain, reachable from the city center in a short drive. Comfortable footwear helps when exploring the uneven paths between wall sections and rock reliefs.
Stones from this area showed attraction and repulsion forces, a phenomenon that contributed to the development of the word for magnet in several languages. Ancient travelers described these properties in accounts of the natural wealth of Asia Minor.
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